Chat Group: Anime Girls are Moist

Frieren: "Another person Rei Ao has set his sights on."

Stella: "Scoundrel!"

Akame: "It sounds like you encountered an unexpected problem afterward. What exactly happened?"

Rei Ao: "In fact, Shizue and I encountered a time fracture. We traveled back thousands of years in that world."

Rei Ao: "There, we met two of the strongest beings from that world."

Rei Ao: "I was fortunate enough to gain their favor, and they should be watching the chat group as we speak."

Stella: "So, these two are the 'wives' Mai mentioned?"

Frieren: "What a fascinating story."

Frieren: "By the way, just how strong are they?"

Sui: "Very strong—and they're dragons!"

Tohru: "Dragons?"

Hearing the mention of dragons, Tohru, who had shown little interest, perked up.

As the daughter of the Supreme Red Dragon, the "Emperor of Demise," Tohru already possessed the power to devastate entire landscapes. Her father could even destroy planets within the cosmos—a force truly unmatched in her world.

Rei Ao: "They can easily destroy planets and, if they wished, entire solar systems."

Tohru: "?"

Tohru was stunned.

Could these beings be even stronger than her father, the Emperor of Demise?

The power of other worlds was staggering!

Yukino Yukinoshita: "…."

Yukino was speechless.

This was power capable of destroying worlds.

Frieren: "Impressive. But for you to earn their favor, Rei Ao, you must have something remarkable about you too."

Megumi Kato: "Remarkable… in *that* way, perhaps?"

Megumi, having experienced first-hand what Saeko and the others had previously discussed, was now part of that group herself.

Saeko Busujima: "Indeed, Rei Ao is no ordinary person."

Ayame Yomogawa: "Um… is this conversation really appropriate?"

Stella: "??? You know it's inappropriate, yet you're still discussing it!"

Yukino didn't catch on at first, but once she did, she gave a quiet "hmph." Pervert.

Stella: "@Rei Ao, this is all your fault!"

Rei Ao: "What did I do?"

Stella: "What else? Mai and the others!"

Rei Ao: "!!!"

Mai Sakurajima: "???"

Frieren: "That… sounded a bit strange."

Sui: "Yeah, really strange!"

Saeko Busujima: "Stella is unexpectedly bold."

Shizue Izawa: "Yes, quite bold."

Stella: "…."

Stella suddenly realized her mistake, but there was no option to delete her message.

"Aaaaah! What was I even saying?!"

Her face turned beet red as she struggled with embarrassment.

Total social death!

Ultimate social death!

"Phew…"

Yukino let out a deep breath.

This chat group was full of inappropriate chaos. She needed to look away.

But still.

The astonishing information in the chat group didn't quite feel real to her. What was real, however, was the issue at hand.

Across from her sat her sister, Haruno, observing her with keen interest.

Yukino's expression turned cold. "Sister, what brings you here all of a sudden?"

Yukino hadn't received any warning of Haruno's visit. She was always showing up unexpectedly, giving Yukino no time to prepare.

And this time, something about Haruno's visit felt different. She was eyeing every corner of the room, as if searching for something.

"Oh, Yukino, don't be so cold to your sister. I do have feelings, you know; I can be hurt too~," Haruno replied, putting on an innocent, wounded look.

Anyone else might have felt compelled to comfort her.

But Yukino remained unfazed.

"If you're only here for idle chatter, I'll have you leave."

And she meant it.

"…"

Haruno's smile gradually faded.

She sized Yukino up, then said, "I'm here to remind you of Mother's expectations."

"Mother…"

Yukino's body tensed. That word alone triggered an instinctive reaction.

Haruno wasn't surprised. After all, mentioning their mother always worked with Yukino.

She continued, her tone pointed, "Mother allowed you to live independently, but that doesn't mean you should be involving yourself in… questionable relationships. I hope you can keep that in mind."

She watched Yukino's face closely, looking for any reaction.

But to her disappointment, Yukino's expression remained steady—if anything, she only furrowed her brow.

"Such matters don't require your guidance, Sister," she replied coldly.

Why would she engage in "questionable relationships" out of nowhere?

"Oh?"

Haruno casually averted her gaze, but inwardly she was puzzled.

Yukino was completely calm and straightforward.

Was it an act?

She hadn't realized her younger sister could conceal herself so convincingly.

After a few moments of thought, Haruno chuckled and said, "This isn't about me—it's Mother's concern for you."

Not wanting Yukino to resent her even more, she deftly shifted the blame onto their mother.

"It would be ideal if you have your boundaries. I assured Mother that no man would set foot in your apartment."

She paused, narrowing her eyes slightly.

She had noticed a subtle change in Yukino's expression.

"…"

When she mentioned a man coming to Yukino's apartment, Yukino's gaze wavered, if only for an instant. But that brief moment didn't escape Haruno's keen observation.

So it *was* true!

Her suspicion was right—someone had indeed visited Yukino's apartment that day, and it was a man.

Despite the unease this realization brought, Haruno chose not to confront her directly. After all, she didn't want to reveal that she had installed a thermal camera in the panda plushie she had given Yukino. If Yukino ever discovered it, their relationship would only deteriorate further.

Now that she had confirmation, Haruno felt reassured by Yukino's response. She trusted that Yukino wouldn't do anything reckless and would maintain her boundaries.

But that didn't mean Haruno was done investigating. She had to find out who that man was.

Leaving Yukino's apartment, Haruno felt relieved to be out of that stifling atmosphere.

"How should I investigate?" she muttered to herself, frowning in thought.

Should she go as far as to install a camera in the panda?

As Haruno pondered, a potential lead presented itself.

Click.

The door to the neighboring apartment opened, and out stepped Rei Ao, holding a bag of garbage.

"Rei Ao?"

Haruno greeted him with a sly tone.

"Hello, Yukinoshita-san."

Rei Ao didn't look the least bit surprised to see Haruno, considering that the apartment next door belonged to her younger sister, Yukino.

Testing the waters, Haruno asked, "So, Rei Ao, do you live here?"

"Yes. I assume you're here to visit Yukino?"

"Correct, spot on."

A pleasant smile crossed Haruno's face as a plan began to take shape in her mind.

"Tell me, Rei Ao, have you seen anyone coming to visit Yukino?"

With that one question, Rei Ao pieced together most of what was happening. This had to be connected to the camera she had likely hidden in the panda plushie. She must have seen him and Yukino talking in her living room and grown suspicious.

He replied smoothly, "I'm afraid I can't say; I'm not aware of anyone else visiting her, and Yukino and I aren't particularly close."

This was true. While he had been to Yukino's apartment, he hadn't seen anyone else there.

"Mm-hmm."

Haruno wasn't disappointed. She knew Rei Ao and Yukino were just ordinary classmates. And with her knowledge that Rei Ao was ardently pursuing Shizuka, she didn't overthink it.

But she had a plan.

With a sly smile, Haruno continued, "By the way, how's it going with Shizuka? Any progress?"

Rei Ao spread his hands in mock exasperation. "Shizuka-san always sidesteps things with mentions of age and status. So, not much progress."

"Heh."

Haruno knew this answer was coming; Shizuka had even asked her for advice on how to politely decline Rei Ao's advances. She had just been asking to set up her next question.

"Well, as Shizuka's friend, I have to say I'm rooting for you."

"Thank you."

"But it's a bit too early for thanks. I can help you out."

"Help me?"

Rei Ao looked at her skeptically.

Haruno's eyes glinted mysteriously. "You know Shizuka and I are close. I can easily create opportunities for you to spend time with her."

"Oh?"

Rei Ao narrowed his eyes. "I have a feeling there's a catch."

"Haha, Rei Ao, you're overthinking things. I have just one small request."

There it was—her real intention.

"I'd like you to keep an eye on who comes to see Yukino and interacts with her."

Since Rei Ao was Yukino's neighbor, he'd make the perfect set of eyes and ears. That way, she could finally uncover the mystery man's identity.

And all she had to do was dangle the prospect of some alone time with Shizuka in front of him. She was doing it for her sister's sake, after all.

*Shizuka, I hope you'll forgive me for this.*

Rei Ao, seeing through her plan, nodded after pretending to think it over. "Alright, I'll do it."

"Mm-hmm, Rei Ao, I'm glad we're working together."

Haruno flashed a satisfied smile, then walked away in her heels, her long legs striding confidently.

But she didn't see Rei Ao's faint smile as he watched her retreating figure and glanced at the contact information he had just saved.

"Apologies."

"But I don't play by the rules."

"My goal isn't only Shizuka-san. Yukino—and you—are my targets as well."

He was the hunter, lying in wait.

While the clam and the sandpiper fought, the fisherman—Rei Ao—stood to gain it all.

~~~

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